Star Trek: Discovery producer explains why the Klingons changed

The Klingons will cause major intergalactic chaos in the upcoming Star Trek: Discovery.

The ridge-headed warrior race plays a huge role in the CBS All Access drama’s mysterious story, which is set during a Federation-Klingon cold war a decade before events in the original series.

Producers constructed a massive ship set, glimpsed here, that looks like an alien cathedral. At its helm is T’Kuvma (Chris Obi), the leader of an ancient Klingon house looking to unite his people, even if that means provoking a war with the Federation. By his side is L’Rell (Mary Chieffo), his Battle Deck Commander.

But the big question online that fans keep asking: Why did producers redesign the look of the Klingons?

Showrunner Aaron Harberts noted that original series showrunner Bryan Fuller was an advocate of updating the look of the Klingons and was involved in the redesign — and that the look of the Klingons has frequently changed over the franchise’s 52 years.

“In the different versions of Trek, the Klingons have never been completely consistent,” Harberts said. “We will introduce several different houses with different styles. Hopefully, fans will become more invested in the characters than worried about the redesign.”

In other words: BIjatlh ’e’ yImev! (Translation: Be quiet!)

Discovery stars Sonequa Martin-Green (The Walking Dead) as a brilliant Starfleet First Officer — the first human educated on Vulcan — who’s forced to make an impossibly difficult decision which impacts the entire Federation. The series also stars Michelle Yeoh, Jason Isaacs, Doug Jones, Anthony Rapp, Shazad Latif, and Mary Wiseman.